At various points throughout the course of today’s Big Ten Media Days event in Chicago, Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio was asked to talk about what makes Brian Lewerke a quarterback “capable of becoming the next star quarterback for Michigan State.”

Dantonio’s answers were similar each time he was asked.

“He’s very calm and collected. He doesn’t get rattled. He’s learned how to make good decisions. He’s a born leader and his teammates really like him – but, they also really respect him.”

Never did I hear Dantonio refer to Lewerke’s strong arm that accounted for 2,793 yards and 20 touchdowns or his legs that accounted for 559 yards rushing, all good for 3,352 yards of total offense (a record for a Spartan sophomore) last season.

Dantonio spoke about Lewerke’s maturity, his decision-making, and the fact that everyone on the team thinks he’s a great guy.

The “great guy” part showed itself when I asked him why, a kid from Phoenix, ultimately chose to go to Michigan State.

“It felt like a family right from the first time I met Coach D and everyone in the program.”

What else was it that helped him choose Michigan State?

“It’s a beautiful place. The campus is unbelievable and the town of East Lansing is the perfect college town……I mean, it’s really a beautiful place – even in the winter. I love it in the winter.”

As if there needed to be more evidence that he’s 100% Spartan, Lewerke was asked about the rivalry with UMAA – being from Phoenix, did it take long for him to understand how intense the rivalry is and what it means to Michigan State?

“I came to understand and feel the intensity of the rivalry almost immediately when I first got here. But then when the week of the game came my freshman year – man, I could feel the air in East Lansing become thicker….”

And what about the UMAA players – does he ever get a sense that they think they’re the “big brother” in the rivalry?

“I’ll let them do the talking. I’ll stick to playing the game.”

What does he think about being someone who is mentioned in early Heisman Trophy dark horse lists?

“I just want to win as many games as we can, win the Big Ten, go to the College Football Playoff and let the rest take care of itself.”